Some Problems In Intermolecular Forces And Statistical Mechanics

The initial part of this work is concerned with the construction and validity of model potential energies while the second part involves the use of statistical mechanical perturbation theory to evaluate some of the bulk properties of liquids for various types of potential models.;A previously developed potential model for isotropic intermolecular interactions is used for the construction of reliable potentials for interactions of unlike noble gas atoms. The potential model has essentially only one adjustable parameter which controls the balance between its exchange and Coulomb energy components. The parameters in the model potentials are determined by fitting second virial coefficient data. Generally, the approach leads to potentials of accuracy comparable to the best literature potentials which are usually based on a large base of experimental and/or theoretical input data.;An examination of the validity and properties of the atom-atom (site-site) potential model for the interactions of homonuclear diatomic molecules is considered. The intermolecular partial wave expansion of the atom-atom potential is developed and used to study the convergence of the partial wave expansion as a function of partial wave order, intermolecular orientation and distance, and the aniostropy of the interacting molecules. In marked contrast to previous work it is found that many of higher order partial work components are important relative to the isotropic term even for the interaction of relatively spherical molecules. The validity of the atom-atom potential as a separation of the correct intermolecular potential is also discussed in some detail.;Applications of the Fischer and RAM perturbation theories are made using some model potentials for the N(,2)-N(,2) interaction. Of particular importance is the study of the effects of various parts of a quantum mechanically realistic ab initio potential on calculated liquid properties. It is found that the contributions from the anisotropic part of the potential to the thermodynamic functions of liquid N(,2) are larger than previous estimates. The deviations of predicted liquid properties for the ab initio potential from experimental data are within the limits set by the estimated uncertainties, which can be substantial, of the ab initio calculations

Kyoko Watanabe Autobiography, n. d.

https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/cook-nisei/1110/thumbnail.jp

Effect of site-specific mutagenesis of tyrosine-55, methionine-110 and histidine-217 in porcine kidney D-amino acid oxidase on its catalytic function

AbstractTo assess the contributions of Tyr-55, Met-110 and His-217 in porcine kidney D-amino acid oxidase (EC 1.4.3.3, DAO) to its catalytic function, we constructed three mutant cDNAs coding for the enzymes possessing Phe-55, Leu-110 and Leu-217 by site-specific mutagenesis. The mutant and wild type cDNAs could be expressed in vitro with similar efficiency. The three mutant enzymes thus synthesized showed catalytic activities comparable to that of the wild type oxidase. It is concluded that Tyr-55, Met-110 and His-217 are not directly involved in the catalytic function

Effects of extracted soy isoflavones alone on blood total and LDL cholesterol: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

When provided concurrently with soy protein for 1–3 months, soy isoflavones exert synergistic or additive cholesterol-lowering effects. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of extracted soy isoflavones alone (not ingested concurrently with soy protein) on total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. MEDLINE (1966–2007), EMBASE (1966–2007), CENTRAL (1966–2007), ICHUSHI (1983–2008), and CNKI (1979–2007) were searched for randomized placebo-controlled trials published in English, Japanese, and Chinese, describing the changes in lipid profiles in adult humans resulting from ingestion of extracted soy isoflavones for 1–3 months. Reference lists of relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses were hand-searched. Meta-analysis of 10 and 9 trials with usable information using REVMAN found that an average of 70 mg soy isoflavones/day (27–132 mg, as the aglycone form) alone had a nonsignificant effect on total (0.01 mmol/L [95% CI: –0.12, 0.14]; P = 0.86) and LDL (0.03 mmol/L [95% CI: –0.11, 0.16]; P = 0.71) cholesterol in menopausal women, respectively. It is concluded that ingestion of about 70 mg extracted soy isoflavones/day alone for 1–3 months does not improve total and LDL cholesterol levels in normocholesterolemic menopausal women; further studies are needed to verify the effects of extracted soy isoflavones

Relationship between cognitive function and prevalence of decrease in intrinsic academic motivation in adolescents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Decrease in intrinsic motivation is a common complaint among elementary and junior high school students, and is related to poor academic performance. Since grade-dependent development of cognitive functions also influences academic performance by these students, we examined whether cognitive functions are related to the prevalence of decrease in intrinsic academic motivation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study group consisted of 134 elementary school students from 4th to 6th grades and 133 junior high school students from 7th to 9th grades. Participants completed a questionnaire on intrinsic academic motivation. They also performed paper-and-pencil and computerized cognitive tests to measure abilities in motor processing, spatial construction, semantic fluency, immediate memory, short-term memory, delayed memory, spatial working memory, and selective, alternative, and divided attention.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for grade and gender, scores of none of the cognitive tests were correlated with the prevalence of decrease in intrinsic academic motivation in elementary school students. However, low digit span forward test score and score for comprehension of the story in the <it>kana </it>pick-out test were positively correlated with the prevalence of decrease in intrinsic academic motivation in junior high school students.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present findings suggest that decrease in capacity for verbal memory is associated with the prevalence of decrease in intrinsic academic motivation among junior high school students.</p

<小特集><語りえぬものを問う>未来のための記憶？

国際シンポジウム語りえぬものを問うⅢ──身体・空間・感性──2005年10月30日（日）関西学院大学西宮上ケ原キャンパス関西学院会

Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Prevents the Progression of Macrophage-Driven Atherosclerosis in Diabetic Apolipoprotein E-Null Mice

Aim: We recently reported that glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) prevents the development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-null (Apoe 2/2) mice. GIP receptors (GIPRs) are found to be severely down-regulated in diabetic animals. We examined whether GIP can exert anti-atherogenic effects in diabetes. Methods: Nondiabetic Apoe 2/2 mice, streptozotocin-induced diabetic Apoe 2/2 mice, and db/db mice were administered GIP (25 nmol/kg/day) or saline (vehicle) through osmotic mini-pumps for 4 weeks. The animals were assessed for aortic atherosclerosis and for oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced foam cell formation in exudate peritoneal macrophages. Results: Diabetic Apoe 2/2 mice of 21 weeks of age exhibited more advanced atherosclerosis than nondiabetic Apoe 2/2 mice of the same age. GIP infusion in diabetic Apoe 2/2 mice increased plasma total GIP levels by 4-fold without improving plasma insulin, glucose, or lipid profiles. GIP infusion significantly suppressed macrophage-driven atherosclerotic lesions, but this effect was abolished by co-infusions with [Pro 3]GIP, a GIPR antagonist. Foam cell formation was stimulated by 3-fold in diabetic Apoe 2/2 mice compared with their nondiabetic counterparts, but this effect was halved by GIP infusion. GIP infusion also attenuated the foam cell formation in db/db mice. In vitro treatment with GIP (1 nM) reduced foam cell formation by 15 % in macrophages from diabetic Apoe 2/2 mice, and this attenuating effect was weaker than that attained by the same treatment of macrophages from nondiabetic counterparts (35%). While GIPR expression was reduced by onl